Jadhav Issue: Pakistan receives India’s Memorial submitted in ICJ

ISLAMABAD (INP): Pakistan has received the written pleadings submitted before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) by India in the case of Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, Foreign Office said on Friday.

The spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said that a team of lawyers and experts, headed by Attorney General Ashtar Ausuf, are considering India’s pleadings.

“Pakistan will submit its counter-memorial to the UN court soon, in which it will highlight the acts of espionage and terrorism committed by Jadhav in Pakistan,” he said.

In May 2017, India had moved the UN’s top court against Pakistan after Jadhav — accused of espionage and subversive activities in Pakistan — was sentenced to death by a Field General Court Martial.

India accused Pakistan of violating the Vienna Convention by denying consular access to Jadhav and requested the ICJ to ensure that Jadhav’s death sentence is suspended. It also alleged that it was “not informed of Jadhav’s detention until long after his arrest,” and learned about his death sentence through the media.

During a hearing at the ICJ on May 15, the court had stayed Jadhav’s execution. “Pakistan should take all measures to ensure that Mr Jadhav is not executed till the final decision of this court,” the court had ruled.

The ICJ is yet to pass the final verdict in the case and had ordered India and Pakistan to file their pleas and counter-arguments by Sept 13 and Dec 13, respectively.